Register with GEF for FREE to enjoy these great benefits! 

    • member only contests and raffles

    • sustainability program news and updates

    • significant discounts at GEF Institute

Note: If you have problems registering, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

JOIN GEF NOW!

Taking a GEF Institute Course? Login by clicking here.

 

 

 

 

 

Join Us

Sign Up for National Green Week!
Please note: Your privacy is very important to GEF. We do not share or sell any of your data.  It is with the sole purpose of providing you with relevant information that GEF will contact you.
Login/SignUp

Welcome to the Sustainability Lesson Clearinghouse

Here, you can find free sustainability lessons to use in your class and upload your own lessons to share. Be sure to rate the lessons you use and leave comments for your colleagues!

All of GEF's lessons and programs are offered at no cost.  Become a member to support GEF and enjoy member only benefits! 
Join button_03

Professional Development

GEFinstitute LOGO_WEB GEF Institute offers affordable, online sustainability courses eligible for professional development or academic credit.
Give your resume a boost!

Sponsor a Teacher

Support educators in your community by helping them earn a Certificate in Sustainability or take an online course. Find out more about sponsorship!
Sustainability Lesson Clearinghouse

Benefits of Indoor Plants

Lesson Description:
Students will be able to…
  • Identify the basic needs of plants and animals.
  • Identify the different parts of plants and the purposes they serve.
  • Explain the interdependent relationships between plants and animals (e.g. the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide).

Lesson Type:
  • Group Work
  • Project

Sustainability Topic:
  • Gardening

GEF Program Category:
  • Waste Reduction Challenge
  • Green Thumb Challenge

Time Needed:
Two 30-40 minute sessions
Standards Addressed:

Science standard 5:
 Understand the structure and function of cells and organisms.
Benchmark # 1: Know the basic needs of plants and animals (e.g., air, water, nutrients, sunlight/food, space/shelter).

Science standards 6: Understand relationships among organisms and their physical environment.
Benchmark # 1: Know that plants need certain resources for energy and growth (e.g., air, food, water and sunlight).

Science standard 9: Understand the sources and properties of energy.
Benchmark # 1: Know that the sun supplies heat and light to the earth.

Science standard 12: Understand the nature of scientific inquiry.
Benchmark # 2: Record information collected about the physical world (e.g., in drawings, simple data charts).

Mathematics standard 4: Understands and applies basic and advanced properties of the concepts of measurement.
Benchmark 2: Selects and uses appropriate tools for given measurement situations (e.g., rulers for length, measuring cups for capacity, protractors for angle).
Benchmark 4: Understands relationships between measures (e.g., between length, perimeter, and area).

Health standard 2: Know environmental and external factors that affect individual and community health.
Benchmark # 1: Know how the physical environment can impact personal health (e.g., the effects of exposure to air pollution).
Materials Needed:
  • Yardstick
  • Graph paper
  • "In and Out" plant diagram worksheet provided below
  • Green plant (optional)
  • Coloring and writing utensils

School or Group:
Green Education Foundation (GEF)
Contact Email:
service@greeneducationfoundation.org
Lesson Documents:
application/pdf BenefitsofIndoorNew.pdf
Lesson Documents:
application/pdf BenefitsofIndoorNew.pdf
Located in: Science

The Sustainability Lesson Clearinghouse is brought to you in partnership with

Center for Green Schools